Frangible bottle cap



Oct. 3, 1950 M s 2,524,458

FRANGIBLE BOTTLE CAP Filed Sept. 23, 1949 ?Fig.8

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANGIBLE BOTTLE CAP Amos R. Mattis, Providence, RJl. Application September 23, 1949, Serial No. 117,382

2 Claims.

My invention relates to frangible bottle caps and comprises a modification of the standard type of metal cap member for bottles having a circular crown and a cylindrical rim portion depending from the circumferential edge thereof adapted to underlie the lower bottle rim of a standard soda bottle, beer bottle, milk bottle, etc. When attached these standard metal caps are put on at the factory by the manufacturer and it is impossible to remove them Without using a special 1 separate disc member and secure the depending rim portion to the edges ofthe slot formed in the rim by its removal with readily frangible soft solder which even a child can break.

A further object of my invention is to provide a frangible bottle cap of pleasing appearance generally similar to that of a standard bottle cap.

When using standard metal caps, it is very often possible to remove them and still replace them so that the contents of the bottles may be substituted.

A further object of my invention is to provide a frangible bottle cap which will positively prevent any substitution as the bottle cap is completely destroyed when used or tampered with.

A further object of my invention is to provide a frangible bottle cap for bottles so close in size and arrangement to that of a standard metal cap that there will be no protruding parts in the way of a standard capping machine, permitting the bottlers to cap the bottles with the use of this standard bottling equipment.

A further object of my invention is to provide a frangible bottle cap which is also leak proof.

A further object of my invention is to provide 1. bottle cap employing onlyone additional piece if metal to that used in standard bottle cap memiers and one which may be readily fabricated and uickly assembled.

,A further feature of my invention relates to the methodl employ for making such a frangible bottle cap.

These and such other objects of. my invention as mayhereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a perspective view of a frangible bottle cap constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectionalview of my improved bottle cap shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing my frangible bottle cap in use in a closed position on top of a bottle.

Fig. 4 isa perspective view illustrating my invention after the bottle cap has been suitably broken to remove it from the top of the bottle.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the bottle cap after the step of cutting two spaced slits from the edge of the crown diametrically across the crown and through the adjacent rim portion has been performed thereon.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the steps of forming a separate disc of standard size to the crown of the cap having a transverse slot therein, cutting the free strap end shown in Fig. 5 and'bending it upwardly to pass through said transverse disc slot, soldering the remaining crown portion of the strip cut off from said two slits to the lower edge of said disc member so that the depending rim portion may be soldered to the edges of the rim slot.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating how the disc is pivoted to a flat position on the crown so that the lip may be pushed up through said slot and may be bent downwardly thereon as shown.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective View of the various parts includingthe disc, the cut crown, and rim of the cap member, the Waterproof disc and the cork disc.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference generally indicate like parts throughout, ii] generally indicates a frangible bottle cap constructed in accordance with my invention. Said bottle cap comprises a metal, cap member I I having a circular crown l2 and a circumferential rim.

Id depending from the circumferential edge thereof. The lower portion of said circumferential rim is adapted to underlie the rounded bottle rim when attached'and is preferably beaded as.

shown for this purpose. The cap member H is constructed out of resilient metal so that rim M will hug the bottle rim in use to retain the cap thereto. In accordance with my invention, said cap member II has the spaced slits it extending from an edge l8 of the crown, diametrically across the crown and through the adjacent portion 20 of the rim, providing a fiat strip 22 extending substantially to the center of the cI'OWn and terminating in a bent-up flat lip 24 and providing a slot 26 extending from said lip through the remainder of said crown portion and rim.

I also provide a. strap portion 28 of the size and shape of the remainder of the slot 26 including the crown portion 3i! thereof and the rim portion 32 thereof having a flat upper portion 34 and a depending rim portion 36 soldered to the edges of said rim slot 32.

It is obvious that said strap portion 28 comprises the remainder of the cut away strip 22.

I also provide a disc 38 of substantially the size of said crown having a transverse slot E9 substantially centrally thereof to receive said upper strap lip 24, bent at 52 over said disc 38 to retain said disc thereon with said disc 33 soldered to the fiat portion 34 of said strap 28 along a radial line normal to said transverse lip slot it. I also provide a flexible waterproof disc 44 having a crown it of substantially the size of the cap rim l4. Said waterproof disc is constructed of any suitable material such as Lucite, acetate resin, or otherwise, and the crown portion 46 suitably adhered to the crown portion I2 of the metal cap ll by glue or any suitable adhesive. I also provide a cork disc 58 of similar size suitably attached by glue or any other suitable adhesive to the lower surface of the crown of the waterproof disc 56.

My invention also includes a novel method of making a bottle cap which comprises stamping from any suitable strip or otherwise, of metal, plastic, etc. material, a cap member if having a circular crown i2 and a cylindrical rim i i depending from the circular edge thereof, cutting spaced slits E6 in any suitable manner by any suitable type of cutting mechanism from an edge 18 of the crown diametrically across the crown and lower adjacent rim portion 26 providing a flat strip 2! extending from th edge iii of the crown, across said crown and down said rim portion 20, cutting off said strip slightly beyond the center of said crown as at 23 to provide a strip portion 28 of the size and shape of the edges of said slot 3E3 having a flat upper portion 3 and a depending rim portion 36, bending the tip of the cut-off strap portion upwardl as at 2:3 to form a flat bent-up lip 2d, stamping a disc 38 from flat metal stock similar to that employed when making the cap ll of substantially the size of the crown E2 of said cap and providing it with the transverse slot ii substantialy centrally thereof in any suitable type of stamping operation, soldering the said portion M of said strip portion 28 to the under surface of said disc radially aligned with said transverse slot 48 and suitably soldering the depending rim portion 36 to the edges of the rim slot 2%, bending said disc 38 downwardly so that said lip 24 extends through the disc slot 46 and bending said lip 2 downwardly on said disc as at 42, forming a flexible waterproof disc 45 having a similar crown 46 and depending rim 48 and adhering the crown thereof to the lower surface of the crown l2 of said cap member ll and adhering a cork disc 50 of similar size to said crown 46 to the lower surface of the crown 46 of said waterproof disc.

It is apparent that I provide a novel type of frangible bottle cap which may be made of one extra piece to that employed in a standard bottle cap and one which may be very easily assembled. The bottle cap which I have shown in the figures is sold to the trad just as standard types of bottle caps, and may be used by the bot tling trade with the standard type of capping n1a' chines to cap liquid in bottles. The lip 24 is readily bendable and may be, if desired, lifted up to a vertical position preparatory to opening. This is not absolutely necessary, however, as the disc 38 may be grasped by the finger directly opposite the slot 30 and lifted upwardly lifting the lip 24 outwardly as shown in Fig. 4 as to pivot the disc upwardly to pull the strap 28 upwardly to separate the depending rim 36 thereof from the edges of the slot 20 formed in the rim, the soft solder employed for holding the said depending rim portion 36 to the edges of the slot 20 readily yielding and separating for this purpose. As shown in Fig. 4 the remains of the broken bottle cap may then be readily lifted over the top of the bottle 52, and thrown away. The hand 54 may grasp the bottle and the other hand 55 may grasp the disc to lift it up and break the edges of its rim portion from the edges of the rim slot 20 for taking my improved cap off the top of the bottle, as my cap when once broken cannot be used again.

I have provided a structure which cannot be tampered with to substitute th contents of the bottle with which it is used.

It is apparent that I have provided a novel type of readil frangible bottle cap and an improved method of its manufacture with the advantages described above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown or method described and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the-appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A frangible bottle cap comprising a metal cap member having a circular crown and a cylindrical rim portion depending from the circumferential edge thereof, adapted to underlie the rounded bottle rim when attached, said cap memher having spaced slits extending from an edge of the crown diametrically partly across the crown, providing a flat strip extending substantially to the center of the crown and terminating in a short bent-up flat lip, the crown having a slot extending from said lip through the remainder of said crown portion and rim, a strap portion of the size and shape of the remainder of said slot having a fiat upper portion and a depending rim portion soldered to the edges of said rim slot, and a disc of substantially the size of said crown, having a transverse slot substantially centrally thereof receiving said upturned strip lip bent over said disc to retain said disc thereon with said disc soldered to the flat portion of said strap along a radial line normal to said transverse lio slot, a flexible waterproof disc having a similar crown and depending rim portion adhered to the lower surface of the crown of said cap member and a similar cork disc secured to the lower surface of the crown of said waterproof disc.

2. A frangible cap comprising a metal cap member having a circular crown and a cylindrical rim portion depending from the circumferential edge thereof, adapted to underlie the rounded bottle rim when attached, said cap member having spaced slits extendin from an edge of the crown diametrically partly across the crown, providing a flat strip extending substantially to the center of the crown and terminating in a short bent-up flat lip, th crown having a slot extending from said lip through the remainder of said crown portion and rim, a strap portion of the size and shape of the remainder of said slot having a fiat upper portion and a depending rim portion soldered to the edges of said rim slot, and a, disc of substantially the size of said crown, having a transverse slot substantially centrally thereof receiving said upturned strip lip bent over said disc to retain said disc thereon with said disc soldered The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 758,273 Norton Apr. 26 1904 847,994 Liessenc et a1 Mar. 19, 1907 854,845 Robinson May 28, 1907 1,043,359 Revel Nov. 5, 1912 1,052,382 Schmitt Feb. 4, 1913 2,218,040 Hutafi Oct. 15, 1940 

